Dear NACPM Members and Friends,

My journey from studying business economics to completing both a traditional and masters-level midwifery program has given me a unique perspective on the value and worth of our profession.  Midwifery holds immense value in our communities, yet we often struggle with receiving fair compensation for the vital services we provide. While our commitment is heartfelt and service-driven, it’s essential that we recognize and advocate for our worth.

Midwife care is associated with overall better health outcomes for both mother and baby, with significantly lower rates of emergency c-sections, episiotomies and preterm births. Taken together, the facts about outcomes and other nations’ standards of care expose American attitudes toward midwives, often considered heedless or amateurish, as uninformed — and, often, rooted in sexist assumptions about women’s abilities and wisdom.

In the face of DEI rollbacks and challenges to progress, RWJF remains steadfast in their commitment to take bold leaps with our partners to pave the way together to a future where health is not a privilege, but a right. Their long-term vision is one where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, where past harms are rectified, and we can prevent future harm from happening.

It’s hard to believe we are more than halfway through 2024, which is a good reminder to make time to pause and reflect.  Having half a year fly by is an off shoot of overdoing it, so let’s take a moment to slow down. 

Established in 2022, the TKT Midwifery Student Scholarship Fund addresses the urgent need for more Black and Indigenous Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). Recognizing the impact of concordant care and the lack of diversity in the midwifery workforce, NACPM is dedicated to removing barriers and creating pathways for Black and Indigenous midwives to enter and sustain their practices. This scholarship embodies that commitment.

The midwifery model of care is rooted in trust, empowerment, and individualized support, fostering a partnership between clients and midwives to embrace the natural journey of pregnancy and childbirth. Different models have been implemented when it comes to childbirth management. These models had been labeled “Medical vs Social”, “technocratic vs holistic” or “pathological vs salutogenic” models.

What does it mean in midwifery to engage in sustainable practices, and do work in midwifery with climate and environmental consciousness, while finding balance and health for ourselves? This is an art and perhaps a science- something midwives are in constant relationship with.

JMWH is the official Journal of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and some of you are familiar with the bimonthly publication schedule and focus on articles of interest to practicing midwives, primarily in the United States.

The recent announcement of the dissolution of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) marks the end of an era for an organization that has been foundational in the establishment of the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential. As we navigate through this period of mourning and adjustment, it is a poignant reminder of the vital role that MANA has played in the professional recognition of midwives and those dedicated to the art and science of community midwifery.

As a practicing midwife, my recent journey to Piste, Mexico provided me with a profound opportunity to learn from the ancient traditions of midwifery intertwined with plant medicine. In rural communities of Latin America, where modern healthcare facilities are often inaccessible due to geographical barriers, caregivers continue to rely on ancestral practices passed down through generations. In the time I spent in Piste, learning at the feet of Mayan

midwives, I was struck by the flourishing

The National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM) is excited to support the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) in their important job task analysis study.

The commitment of the NACPM to our Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) certification begins with our midwifery students. We must recognize that the strength and future of our profession are deeply rooted in the education and nurturing of our future midwives. This year, I am dedicated to advancing these collective resolutions, understanding that they are vital not just to the individuals involved, but to the broader health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Today, the importance of perinatal and infant health in the United States is more evident than ever before. The momentum we have seen this year, fueled by advocates, community-based partners, policymakers, and others, clearly indicates the collective will to address this issue as a national community.

At NACPM, our daily endeavor is to weave community midwifery into the fabric of options for consumers and the field of perinatal healthcare. This mission, ambitious in its scope, is made achievable by your unwavering partnership and support.

On December 18th, we joined hundreds of thousands of viewers across the United States in watching  “Homebirth Journey: Saving Black Moms” on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper. In her report, CNN anchor Abby Phillip delves into the persistently high maternal mortality rates for Black women, exploring the reasons behind this alarming disparity and those dedicated to instigating change.  Abby connects with mothers who are choosing alternative paths, opting out of conventional hospital births.

Among the individuals awarded a total of  $30,000 in direct aid by The Tanya Khemet Taiwo Midwifery Scholarship Fund in 2022 is Chanté Perryman, a midwifery student at Mercy In Action College of Midwifery. Chanté's aspirations extend beyond personal achievement; she envisions establishing a freestanding birth center in Kentucky, providing crucial support to Black and Brown families. Her dedication to midwifery stems from a profound commitment to bridging gaps within the healthcare system, offering steadfast support, education, and advocacy during the pivotal and vulnerable moments of childbirth.

Beyond its deep roots in cultural traditions, midwifery has inspired various art forms, including literature, painting, music, and film. This recognition by UNESCO would not only reflect the historical contributions of midwifery but also its ongoing role in society

NACPM believes in ensuring safe, high-quality, respectful care for all women and childbearing people and opposes their oppression and subjection to war and violence. We join the voices of protesters across the nation in the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. NACPM, a member association of the International Confederation of Midwives, stands in solidarity with midwives around the world in the demand for safety for all Israeli and Palestinian midwives, mothers, and babies.